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Safety tips.....

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Hi all you beautiful Bavarian people.

I have read a few times on the social media of hijacking, smash n grabs and car deals going sour. I have spoken to a close friend and high ranking SAPS member and he gave me some tips. I would like to share them with you as well as my own tips for safety on the road.

General safety tips:

1. Always travel with your doors locked. Would be hijackers are very fast when hijacking you.
2. Never leave valuables on the seat next to you. This is when smash and grabs happen. Especially if it is women drivers.
3. When at stop street or traffic light always look around for suspicious people standing around especially at night time. If a guy approach your car, even if it look like a beggar rather make sure it safe to cross and drive on.

When travelling far:
1. Make sure your cellphone is properly charged. You never know what can happen along the road then you are far from home and cannot get someone to assist you. Would be wise to buy a car charger that go from R40 to R200.
2. Make sure you know the route to travel when travelling to a place unknown to you. If you do not have a GPS you can always make a print out at Google maps of the area. The criminals realise quickly when they see a car not from their area that they do not know.
3. Make sure people know where you going and when you arrive. This way if anything goes wrong they can alert the authorities.

Never stop when:
1. You see someone laying on the road. Yes harsh but many criminals have a plan where one lay on the road and when a motorist stop the rest jump you.
2. Your windscreen get thrown with eggs, never squirt water and put on the wipers. You wont see anything in front of you and would be forced to stop. That the time they jump you.
3. When at a traffic light and someone selling “perfume” and ask if you want to smell. Also a trick where the fragrance you smell make you pass out and they jump you. (Dont know how real this is as it was a broadcast message)

When selling a car through internet sites
Last year there was an article of a man who put up an ad on gumtree to sell his BMW 318ti. He got a reply for someone who wanted to go for a test drive. They went and they pulled a gun on him. Through him in trunk. Murdered him and sped off with the car. Yes i know it sounds harsh but that the reality and something no one must go through. A few tips when selling a car via internet ads.
1. When going for a test drive only let them drive a route you give. Sometime the criminal would drive where the rest of the gang is waiting.
2. Take a friend with. Strength in numbers.
3. When the person come for the test drive make sure a friend or relative that not going with see him and also let him show you his drivers licence.
4. When selling the car cash will be involved most of the time. When doing a cash transfer face to face ask to do it at the police station. Just tell officer on duty you guys busy with a car sale and want to exchange the money at the station. That way they wont jump you as you leave and the would be criminal will think twice as the officer saw him.

During an accident:

1. Stop immediately. If it happend where the road is not visible (on a bend) and it is possible move your vehicle to a safe side. This can prevent a pile up.
2. Check to make sure what conditions your passengers are. If serious immediately fone emergency services. If you don’t know the number dial 911. Yes 911 will put you through to an emergency call centre.
3. Get all the details of others involved. Even if it is a pedestrian. Details include name surname, ID number vehicle number plate, make and year of car as well as the details of the officer at the scene of the accident.
4. Never ever ever ever admit guilt. Even if you know you wrong don’t say it. Rather make contact the following day once you speak to the police.
5. Take photos of the scene. This might come in handy for insurance purposes.
6.If your life is in danger rather get to the nearest police station immediately.

How to survive a hijacking.
This piece is taken directly from SAPS website.
Tips on getting through a hijacking alive:
• Your life and those with you must be your priority. Resisting the hijackers may cause then to become violent or even deadly. Remember: possessions can be replaced, a life cannot.

• The hijackers are probably just as scared and nervous as you are. They may even be under the influence of drugs or alcohol which may make their actions event more unpredictable.

• Try not to panic and do anything the hijackers may not be expecting. Do not scream or make sudden movements, such as motioning with your hands.

• Avoid eye contact with them.

• Keep your hands where the hijackers can see them, ideally at chest level. This will assure them that you are not reaching for a weapon. Do not raise your hands above your head as they may think you are trying to attract the attention of other people.

• If they order you out of the car, wait for them to open the door or, if they order you to, do it slowly with one hand, keeping the other where they can see it. Also undo your seatbelt with one hand, preferably the hand furthest from the clip by extending your arm over your body (if it is on your left, use your right hand).

• Slowly move away from the car so that you cannot be perceived as a threat to them.

• Listen carefully to and make sure you understand what the hijackers are saying and follow their orders.

• Quietly but clearly assure the hijackers that they can take the car.

• Do not reach for or motion towards items they may demand such as wallets, briefcases and cellphones. Rather tell the hijackers where the items are and wait for them to get the items themselves, or they may tell you to hand them over.

• Be honest with hijackers. For example, if you have a firearm on you and they ask, tell them you have. Finding out or suspecting you have lied to them may unsettle them, make them nervous or aggressive and lead to them becoming violent. Tell them honestly how to deactivate any alarms or immobilizers or do it yourself, as ordered.

• Try and concentrate on the possibility of later identifying the hijackers. Make mental notes of how many there are, what they are wearing, their ages, and any facial or other physical characteristics. However, do not be obvious, do not stare at the hijackers. To them this means that you will later be able to identify them and give evidence against them and they could become violent or decide to kill you.

• Hijackers may not notice a sleeping baby in the back seat. If this is the case, tell them and point out that the child is not a threat and will make things more difficult for them. Never move to release the child without them saying you may. Do the same if a pet is in the car but do not push the point to where your life may be threatened at the expense of an animal.

• If ordered to lie down, do so and remain there with your head down. Do not watch them. Stay still until you are sure they have left and only then go for help.

• The hijackers may drive off with you or you may even be ordered to drive. If you are driving, do so responsibly and do not do anything out of the ordinary. Always remain quiet unless you need to reply to a question or clarify an order. Remember to be honest with them.

• Once you have been released, make sure that you are out of harm’s reach before moving to get help.
After a hijacking:
Get help as soon as the hijackers have left you and immediately report it to the police. The police have a greater chance of catching the criminals while they are on the move in your car.
You experience severe trauma by experiencing a hijacking, trauma that can manifest itself in many different ways soon or long after the incident. You need to get professional counselling to help you deal with what happened and cope with it emotionally. Seek help within hours of the hijacking. Do not fool yourself into thinking you will “get over it”.
Remember that you are not to blame for anything that happened. Criminals look for new opportunities and situations that make their potential victims vulnerable, and develop new techniques to steal our vehicles.
Guys I hope you find it useful. Hope it comes in handy for you.

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